In the paper, Sarah Pospos, MD, from the University of California San Diego, and colleagues note that 24% to 54% of healthcare professionals experience burnout, but only a minority seek treatment. The researchers cite cost, lack of time, and concerns regarding stigma, potential career implications, and confidentiality as contributing factors.

Maintaining electronic medical records is one of the major factors contributing to physician burnout in Canada and the U.S. (Canadian Medical Association Journal Nov. 2017; 189(45):E1405-E1406). This type of documentation along with speaking engagements, teaching commitments, and familial duties are just some of the multiple responsibilities that physicians manage outside of direct patient care.

One of the reasons work life balance is so difficult for physicians is the missing “OFF” switch on our doctor programming.

You are trained so thoroughly over such a long time how to be “ON” as a doctor that your physician programming dominates your entire life — running continuously both at work and at home. Work life balance can begin only when you are able to shut that doctor programming OFF – something we were never taught how to do in medical school or residency.

In this post I will show you how to build your own personal “OFF” switch to your doctor programming and get the daily dose of work life balance you must have to prevent physician burnout.

Choosing to be a Physician is a lot like inviting an 800 pound gorilla to be a permanent house guest. Gorillas are big, take up a lot of space, eat all your food and are not house trained … so there are messes to clean up every week.